Galatians 5:7-15

v7: The Christian life is frequently described as being a race.  If we wish to receive the prize we must keep on running by living up to our profession of faith in Christ.  It is not uncommon for those who start out promisingly in the faith and run well for a time to find themselves "hindered in their progress or turned aside from the path."

v8: "To judge rightly among the different beliefs of Christians, we should ask whether they come from the One who calls us, whether or not they are based on the authority of Christ and his apostles."

v9: A local church is in danger when they allow those who spread error to have influence.  The whole church "may be infected by one member" leading "to the complete ruin of the truth and freedom of the gospel" in it.

v10-12: It is important to "distinguish between the leaders and those who are led, those who set themselves to draw others into their ways and those who are drawn aside into them."  It is the leaders who will pay the penalty and who "forfeit the privileges of Christian fellowship and deserve to be cut off from them."

v13-15: "Although Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, he has not freed us from obligation to it."  We are to love God and to love one another including those "who may have different opinions from us."  This is important to remember when we have a disagreement with another Christian.  Damage is caused to local churches when members instead of helping and serving and being a joy to one another, "act like wild animals, biting and devouring each other."